Child proof closure

ABSTRACT

A childproof closure comprising a cap which may be threaded or snapped onto a complementary finish on a neck of a container, the cap having a flexible slotted lower skirt portion provided with inwardly projecting lugs which are adapted to snap under an annular shoulder at the lower end of the finish, the lugs lock beneath the shoulder when the cap is closed and snap out from under the shoulder when the cap is unscrewed or lifted. An auxiliary locking ring is movable and locked over the slotted skirt portion to prevent the lugs from releasing and is movable off the slotted portion to permit release of the lugs and opening of the container.

Kowalik 1 CHILD PROOF CLOSURE [75] inventor: John J. Kowalik, Glenview,Ill.

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 403,736

[52] 0.5. Cl 215/221; 215/274 [51] Int. Cl. 865d 55/02; B65d 85/56; A61j1/00 [58] Field of Search 215/9, 221, 216, 225, 274

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,738,523 6/1973 Linkletter215/221 3,773,204 11/1973 Stroud .1 3,779,412 12/1973 Kirton 215/9Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John J.Kowalik; Joseph E. Kerwin; William A. Dittmann [5 7] ABSTRACT Achildproof closure comprising a cap which may be threaded or snappedonto a complementary finish on a neck of a container, the cap having aflexible slotted lower skirt portion provided with inwardly projectinglugs which are adapted to snap under an annular shoulder at the lowerend of the finish, the lugs lock beneath the shoulder when the cap isclosed and snap out from under the shoulder when the cap is unscrewed orlifted. An auxiliary locking ring is movable and looked over the slottedskirt portion to prevent the lugs from releasing and is movable off theslotted portion to permit release of the lugs and opening of thecontainer.-

11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures CHILD PROOF CLOSURE DISCUSSION OF THEPRIOR ART Various forms of childproof closures have been devisedrequiring that several pieces of a cap be displaced to permit opening.However, those known to applicant provide a part which is attached tothe neck of the bot tle and the cap then fits onto such part. One of theproblems with such a structure is that the entire cap assembly rotateson the neck and thus a good seal cannot be maintained particularly forisotropic contents. Furthermore, in the multiple piece constructions itis usually necessary for the user to hold one part while manipulatingthe other so that it is either tedious or impossible to close or open bythe infirm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a novel cap whichis relatively easily closed and opened by an adult, but which wouldfrustrate a young child.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel closure cap assemblyhaving an inner cap portion and an outer locking ring portion which isadapted to be selectively positioned in locking or unlocking position tothe cap portion.

A different object of the invention is to provide a cap assembly whichhas means for interlocking with the bottle finish and releasablesupplementary means are provided to hold the interlocking means inlocking position.

More specifically the invention comprehends the provision of a capassembly having an inner radially spreadable screw-on or snap-on portionfor mounting of the bottle finish and a locking member which sleevesover the inner portion in one position preventing spreading and inanother position permitting the inner portion to spread and release fromthe finish.

A still further object is to provide a novel cap structure in which alocking ring is sleeved over a cap and the locking ring and cap are soconstructed that the user may with one hand apply or remove the cap withrespect to the container by applying suitable forces to the lockingring.

These and other objects and advantages inherent in the invention willbecome more apparent from the specification and the drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a portion of a bottle with the novel capstructure applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged axial sectional view of the cap structure shownapplied to a bottle neck finish with the parts in locked position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the parts in unlockedposition removed from the container;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view partly broken away andshowing the parts in locked position taken substantially on line 4 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing another embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 7 show a still further embodiment;

FIG. 7 being a side elevational view partly broken away;

FIG. 8 being a bottom view;

FIG. 9 being a fragmentary axial sectional view taken substantially online 9 9 of FIG. 7, showing the parts in locked position; and

FIG. 10 being a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the parts in reclosedposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGURES l 5 The novel cap structure ofgenerally designated 1 is shown in association with a more or lessstandard bottle finish 2 on a neck portion 3 of a bottle or container 4.The neck is cylindrical and has an upper end opening 5 defined by anannular lip 6 which in the closed position of the inner portion or cap 7of the closure structure is engaged by a seal 8 on the interior of thetop wall 9 of the cap.

The cap 7 is provided with a cylindrical skirt I0 integral with the topwall 9 and the skirt has a rigid upper portion 11 and a slotted lowerportion I2. An internal thread 13 is provided on the skirt which threadsonto a mating thread 13a formed on the finish. The slotted lower portionof the skirt comprises a plurality of cir' cumferentially spacedflexible fingers 14 which in static condition as best seen in FIG. 3 arespread out to facili tate removal and application of the cap structurewith respect to the neck of the container. The cap structure (includingthe locking ring hereinafter described) are made of suitable plasticsuch as nylon, polyethylene or polypropylene or copolymers of thesematerials. Such material has inherent resiliency particularly in thefinger portions which are adapted to flex radially with respect to theaxis of the cap.

Each finger as best seen in FIG. 5 is of arcuate crosssection andadjacent fingers define axially elongated slots 15 15. Each finger has,at its lower end, an inwardly directed locking lug l7, which provides anupper locking edge 18 which in the locked position as seen in FIG. 2 isgenerally normal to the axis of the neck and engages or locks under aflat bottom edge 19 of an annular shoulder 20 formed on the container atthe base of the neck, the shoulder being dimensioned to fit into agroove 21 formed in the finger above the leg 17. The skirt is molded insuch a manner that the upper portion thereof is relatively rigid and thelower portion flexible with the fingers normally in spread position asshown in FIG. 3.

After the cap is threaded onto the finish it is locked by asupplementary plastic locking ring generally designated 25 which issleeved over the skirt and comprises a cylindrical body section 26 witha plurality of circumferentially spaced deflectible locking lugs 27, onefor each ramp 28 formed on the exterior sides of the fingers. Eachlocking lug 27 is of quadrilateral shape in cross-section as seen inFIG. 4A and has a forward guide edge 28 and an upper diagonal cam edge29. The guide edge is adapted to engage with the rear cam edge 30 on theadjacent ramp and attendant to turning of the ring guide the ring tomove downwardly while closing the fingers about the neck to grasp thelocking shoulder on the neck, whereupon the lower locking lugs 17 emgage under the shoulder.

The ring which is made of suitable plastic material such as polyethyleneor polypropylene and the like is further rotated until the upper camedge 29 of each lug 27 deflects and passes under a detent 32 formed atthe lower end of the associated ramp and then enters into a lockingnotch 33 formed in the ramp ahead of the detent. A bayonet typeinterlock is effected between the ring and the skirt preventing therotation of the ring except when the ring is rotated with sufficientforce in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 5). Clockwise rotation ofthe ring is limited by stops 34 formed on the tingers and engageablewith the locking lug 29 therebehind.

The ring is shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 in locked position whereat itembraces the fingers and prevents their being spread apart. Thus thelower locking lugs on the fingers are prevented from escaping from underthe locking shoulder.

It will also be noted that the ramps are tapered at 35 in an upwarddirection as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4A so as to enhance theflexibility of the fingers and at the same time the thicker lowersections 36 (FIG. 4) rigidify those regions of the fingers in proximityto the lower locking lugs 17 so as to minimize the flexibility of thesection 37 of the fingers in the region of the shoulder receiving groove21. Furthermore, in locking position the ring lugs 27 are disposed inradial alignment with the groove 21 thus preventing the locking lugs 17from springing out from under the shoulder when the ring is in lockingposition and the container closed as seen in FIG. 2 when attempt is madeto unscrew the cap.

To open the container, that is to remove the cap, the adult user graspsthe ribbed outer surface 37a of the locking ring and by rotating thesame in a counterclockwise direction causes the corners 38 of the lugs27 to deflect or temporarily deform accommodating the lug 27, with somedeflection, to ride under the downwardly convexed edge 39 of the detentto a released position behind the ramp. In this position the outwardbias of the fingers hold the ring in the lowered position and the usermust then move the ring axially upwardly until the upper edges of thelugs 17 abut the undersides 40 of ledges 41 which are formed ascircumferential continuations of the upper narrow ends of the ramps. Thering in the upper released position clears the fingers which springoutwardly as best seen in FIG. 3, thus disengaging the locking lugs 17from the shoulder 20.

Rotation of the ring in a counterclockwise direction is limited by apair of stops 44, 44 formed at diametrically opposed sides of the skirtadjacent to the fingers for abutment by the back edges 45 of thecorrespondingly positioned locking lugs 27 on the ring, all of Said lugs27 also abutting the ledges 41. By turning the ring counterclockwise,the cap interlocked therewith is unscrewed. disengaging the sealing ring8 secured to the bottom of the top wall of the cap in axial alignmentwith the lip 6.

It will be observed that the ring and cap may be separated bypositioning the ring approximately midway between or intermediate thetop and bottom positions and aligning the locking lugs 27 with passages47 (FIG. 4) located between the lower edges of the stop lugs 44 and theupper edges of the lower portions 36 of the respective ramps. The ringin this position is rotated in a counterclockwise direction while thecap is held.

The locking lugs exit into guide passage 49 which are defined by forwarddiagonal edges 50 of the ramps and the ring is lifted up off the cap.The edge 50 serves to guide the respective lug 27 into the passage 47during assembly of the ring with the cap which may be suitably held,whereupon the ring is rotated in a clockwise direction deforming the lug27 through the slot 47 into assembled interlocked relation with the cap.

EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 6

The embodiment of FIG. 6 is identical with the previous embodimentexcept that in lieu of threads being formed on the interior of theskirt, the interior surface is cylindrical to fit on a cylindricalfinish of a bottle 76 whereby the cap merely snaps onto the bottle. Allother parts are the same as in the previous embodiment and identicalparts are identified by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment.however, it is necessary for the user to hold the cap when tightening orloosening the cap. Also in this embodiment the fingers are not formed toseparate, but are formed in a cylindrical form as a continuation of theupper skirt portion, so that when the cap is forced onto the neck of thebottle the locking lugs have their lower inwardly curved edges 77engaged with the top edge 78 of the shoulder 20 and upon furtherforcible downward movement of the cap the lugs spread out sliding ontheir edges 77 on the shoulder until the lugs 27 pass the shoulder andthen snap under, thus locking the securing ring to prevent the fingersfrom spreading and thus completing the do sure. To open, the lockingring is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and then lifted toaxially displaced upper position relative to the fingers whereuponfurther lifting unsnaps the lugs 27 from shoulder 20 and the cap thenmay be easily removed.

EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 7 10 In this embodiment, parts identical with thoseof the previous embodiments will be similarly numbered. The capcomprises a top wall 9 with a sealing gasket 8 on its underside forsealing with the lip 6 of the bottle 4 fragmentarily shown in FIG. 9.The cap comprises a cylindrical skirt generally indicated 10 which hasinternal threads 13 for mating engagement with complementary threads 13aon the finish of the neck 3 of the bottle.

The rigid upper portion of the skirt is continuous circumferentially andthe lower portion 12 flares outwardly downwardly in static condition andcomprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers 112, 112 withintervening inverted V-shaped notches I13, 113.

Each finger is provided with an inwardly directed locking lug 114 whichhas a top locking edge 115 adapted to engage the bottom edge 19 ofshoulder 20 of the bottle in locked position as herein after explained.The fingers have a groove 117 receiving the shoulder or annulus 20therein in closed position.

The cap is adapted to be threaded onto the neck 3 until the gaskettightly seals against the lip. At this time the grooves 117 alignradially with the annulus 20 and the locking lugs 114 are below theannulus but spaced outwardly therefrom.

In order to lock the cap onto the container a locking ring 120 isprovided which is sleeved over the lower finger portion of the skirt.The ring has a cylindrical body portion 121 with a reinforcing orstiffening edging or bead 122 along its lower edge. Internally the bodyis provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking lugs123 which are generally triangular in side elevation and dimensioned tofit into the inverted V- shaped slots or apertures 113, there being oneslot for each lug. The lugs 123 are equally spaced as are the slot 113and are adapted in the released position to fit into respective slotswhereby the fingers are free to spring outwardly and release the lugs114.

To lock the ring from released position. the ring is rotated clockwise(FIG. 8) while the cap is tight on the neck. The leading edges 125 ofthe lugs I23 slide over the leading cam surfaces 126 on the fingerscausing the fingers to swing inwardly engaging the lugs H4 thereon underthe shoulder 20. Rotation of the ring is stopped by stops 127 ondiametrically opposite fingers engaging the leading edges of therespective lugs 123. The apical edges 130 of the lugs 123 ride under atoothed profile 131 having downwardly directed teeth with forward catchsurfaces 132 against which the back edges 133 of the upper apicalportion of the lugs are engaged. These are held in engaged position bythe spreading action of the fingers which tend to wedge the ringupwardly.

It will be noted that the securing ring is formed with an externalreinforcing bead 122 at its lower edge and the bead is integrated with aseries of gussets 137 which merge with the external periphery 136 of thebody portion of the ring. These gussets taper upwardly so as to preservethe resiliency of the fingers and also provide an interrupted surfacecontour with abutments to prevent the fingers of the user from slippingaround the peripheral surface during turning of the ring.

The ring has an inturned upper flange 138 abuttable with an annulus 139formed on the external peripheral surface of the cap skirt fingersintermediate the top and bottom of the cap above the fingers to preventthe ring from accidentally slipping off downwardly when not in use andupward release is prevented by the locking lugs being trapped in therespective slots as best seen in FIG. 10. To assemble the ring with thecap, the locking lugs of the ring are merely forced over the flange 138deflecting the same.

Having described several forms of the invention, it will be noted thatvarious embodiments will now become apparent and within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A childproof plastic closure for a container having a neck and alocking shoulder at the base of the neck comprising:

a cap having a skirt with an upper cylindrical portion and splayedfingers forming the lower portion; means on the fingers for interlockingengagement with the shoulder;

holding means mounted on the cap and movable to release and lockingpositions and in said locking position closing the fingers about theneck and thereby forcing said interlocking means into locking relationwith the shoulder to prevent removal of the cap from the associatedcontainer;

and supplementary means for releasably securing said locking means inlocking and unlocking positions with the cap, said holding meanscomprising a ring sleeved over the skirt and movable axially andcircumferentially thereon over and off said fingers;

said supplementary means comprising interengaging cam means on the ringand the external sides of said fingers, said cam means on the fingersextending diagonally axially and circumferentiaily of the cap, and meansaxially spaced of the cap and being disposed at the ends of the cammeans on the fin- 6 gers and offset circumferentially from each other,said cam means effective to guide said ring into and out of lockingposition attendant to rotation of the ring in conventional manner tolock and unlock the closure. l

2. The invention according to claim 1 and said interlocking meanscomprising inwardly directed lugs at the lower ends of said fingers.

3. The invention according to claim 1 and said supplementary meanscomprising a bayonet-type lock on the ring and at least certain of saidfingers.

4. The invention according to claim I and said cap having neck-threadengaging threads in said skirt.

5. The invention according to claim 1 and said fingers defining slotstherebetween, and lugs on the ring spaced on the order of said slots andattendant to rotation of the ring adapted to enter respective slots inrelease position and in locked position to be positioned in backingrelation to respective fingers.

6. The invention according to claim 5 and said ring having teethoverlying the lugs for engagement by the lugs to selectively releasablyhold the same in locked and release positions.

7. The invention according to claim I and said fingers being inherentlyresilient and biased radially outwardly of the skirt for holding saidsupplementary means in locking and in locked positions.

8. The invention according to claim 1 and said supplementary meanscomprising a band encircling said skirt and movable axially thereof toan upper release position whereat said fingers are spread outwardly andto a lower locking position moving said fingers inwardly to lockingposition.

9. A childproof container closure comprising:

a cap having a top wall and an integral skirt including a cylindricalupper portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of radiallydeflectible fingers depending from said skirt;

container-lip engaging sealing means within said cap on the bottom ofsaid top wall;

securing means on the fingers projecting inwardly thereof for engagementwith a locking shoulder of an associated container; and

releasable locking means disposable in locking embracing relation tosaid fingers to hold the same from deflecting outwardly and disengagingsaid securing means;

said locking means comprising a ring sleeved over said skirt and movableaxially on said skirt between said upper and lower portions of saidskirt;

said ring movable circumferentially on the cap between said lockingposition and an unlocking position displaced from said fingers;

said locking means comprising cam ribs spiraled about said lower portionand projecting outwardly from respective fingers, lugs on the interiorof the ring cooperatively associated with respective ribs, a set oflatching means at the axial ends of said ribs, one set being adjacentthe cylindrical portion for interlocking engagement with respective lugsfor holding said ring in elevated position out of engagement with thefingers and the other set located for securing the ring in lockingposition of the fingers.

10. A childproof container closure comprising:

a cap having a top wall and an integral skirt including a cylindricalupper portion and a lower portion comprising a plurality of radiallydeflectible fingers depending from said skirt;

container-lip engaging sealing means within said cap on the bottom ofsaid top wall;

ger. said fingers defining slots therebetween of complemental shape tosaid locking elements for receiving the same in the unlocked position ofthe ring whereby the fingers may spring outwardly between said lockingelements, the apical ends of said elements and slots being disposedadjacent to said cylindrical portion.

H. The invention according to claim 10 and said skirt having a toothedmeans formed thereon for lockit) ing engagement with the apical ends ofrespective locking elements in the locked position thereof forreleasably constraining the ring against rotation.

1. A childproof plastic closure for a container having a neck and alocking shoulder at the base of the neck comprising: a cap having askirt with an upper cylindrical portion and splayed fingers forming thelower portion; means on the fingers for interlocking engagement with theshoulder; holding means mounted on the cap and movable to release andlocking positions and in said locking position closing the fingers aboutthe neck and thereby forcing said interlocking means into lockingrelation with the shoulder to prevent removal of the cap from theassociated container; and supplementary means for releasably securingsaid locking means in locking and unlocking positions with the cap, saidholding means comprising a ring sleeved over the skirt and movableaxially and circumferentially thereon over and off said fingers; saidsupplementary means comprising interengaging cam means on the ring andthe external sides of said fingers, said cam means on the fingersextending diagonally axially and circumferentially of the cap, and meansaxially spaced of the cap and being disposed at the ends of the cammeans on the fingers and offset circumferentially from each other, saidcam means effective to guide said ring into and out of locking positionattendant to rotation of the ring in conventional manner to lock andunlock the closure.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 and saidinterlocking means comprising inwardly directed lugs at the lower endsof said fingers.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 and saidsupplementary means comprising a bayonet-type lock on the ring and atleast certain of said fingers.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 andsaid cap having neck-thread engaging threads in said skirt.
 5. Theinvention according to claim 1 and said fingers defining slotstherebetween, and lugs on the ring spaced on the order of said slots andattendant to rotation of the ring adapted to enter respective slots inrelease position and in locked position to be positioned in backingrelation to respective fingers.
 6. The invention according to claim 5and said ring having teeth overlying the lugs for engagement by the lugsto selectively releasably hold the same in locked and release positions.7. The invention according to claim 1 and said fingers being inherentlyresilient and biased radially outwardly of the skirt for holding saidsupplementary means in locking and in locked positions.
 8. The inventionaccording to claim 1 and said supplementary means comprising a bandencircling said skirt and movable axially thereof to an upper releaseposition whereat said fingers are spread outwardly and to a lowerlocking position moving said fingers inwardly to locking position.
 9. Achildproof container closure comprising: a cap having a top wall and anintegral skirt including a cylindrical upper portion and a lower portioncomprising a plurality of radially deflectible fingers depending fromsaid skirt; container-lip engaging sealing means within said cap on thebottom of said top wall; securing means on the fingers projectinginwardly thereof for engagement with a locking shoulder of an associatedcontainer; and releasable locking means disposable in locking embracingrelation to said fingers to hold the same from deflecting outwardly anddisengaging said securing means; said locking means comprising a ringsleeved over said skirt and movable axially on said skirt between saidupper and lower portions of said skirt; said ring movablecircumferentially on the cap between said locking position and anunlocking position displaced from said fingers; said locking meanscomprising cam ribs spiraled about said lower portion and projectingoutwardly from respective fingers, lugs on the interior of the ringcooperatively associated with respective ribs, a set of latching meansat the axial ends of said ribs, one set being adjacent the cylindricalportion for interlocking engagement with respective lugs for holdingsaid ring in elevated position out of engagement with the fingers andthe other set located for securing the ring in locking position of thefingers.
 10. A childproof container closure comprising: a cap having atop wall and an integral skirt including a cylindrical upper portion anda lower portion comprising a plurality of radially deflectible fingersdepending from said skirt; container-lip engaging sealing means withinsaid cap on the bottom of said top wall; securing means on the fingersprojecting inwardly thereof for engagement with a locking shoulder of anassociated container; and releasable locking means disposable in lockingembracing relation to said fingers to hold the same from deflectingoutwardly and disengaging said securing means; said locking meansincluding a ring movable circumferentially on the cap between saidlocking position and an unlocking position displaced from said fingers;said locking ring having a plurality of inverted V-shaped lockingelements therein, one for each finger, said fingers defining slotstherebetween of complemental shape to said locking elements forreceiving the same in the unlocked position of the ring whereby thefingers may spring outwardly between said locking elements, the apicalends of said elements and slots being disposed adjacent to saidcylindrical portion.
 11. The invention according to claim 10 and saidskirt having a toothed means formed thereon for locking engagement withthe apical ends of respective locking elements in the locked positionthereof for releasably constraining the ring against rotation.